Chromosome analysis by two-dimensional fingerprinting.

A two-dimensional fingerprinting technique has been developed that allows large, cell genome-size DNA's to be analyzed by restriction endonuclease cleavage and separation of DNA fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis. Equations have been derived to determine the genome size and number of cleavage sites from analysis of the distribution of fragment lengths. Genome sizes of Escherichia coli strain JM101 and two strains of the mycoplasma Acholeplasma laidlawii measured by this method are in agreement with published values. Other uses of two-dimensional fingerprinting for studies of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genome structure and organization are described.